Bobby Flay (born October 9, 1964) is an American celebrity chef and restaurateur -- recently, he also became a super chef. He is the owner and executive chef of four restaurants: Mesa Grill, Bolo and Bar Americain in New York City, and Mesa Grill Las Vegas. Flay also hosts three Food Network television programs, and appears regularly on a fourth. He is married to actress Stephanie March.

Career

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Flay got his start at age 17 in Joe Allen's New York City restaurant. Owner Allen was so impressed by Flay's talents that he personally paid for Flay's tuition to the French Culinary Institute. Though he earned the first Outstanding Graduate Award from the school later in 1993, Flay did not take to French cooking. He later developed his own style of American southwestern food incorporating ingredients introduced to him by Jonathan Waxman such as chiles, avocados, and beans.

From 1988 to 1990, Flay worked as the executive chef at the Miracle Grill and caught the attention of Jerome Kretchmer. In 1991, Kretchmer offered Flay the opportunity to open Mesa Grill in New York City. After reaching critical acclaim, Flay again teamed with Kretchmer in 1993 to open Bolo only a few blocks away from Mesa Grill. Bolo continues to be voted the best Spanish restaurant in New York City by the Zagat Survey. That same year, Flay was voted the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year. In 2004 he opened another Mesa Grill at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. In June 2006, Flay opened his first steakhouse, Bobby Flay Steak, at the Borgata in Atlantic City.

More on [ Bobby Flay ]

L.A. Times - Food & Dining

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